Evaluation of the Effect of Environmental Parameters and Productions Route on the Resistance of an Austenitic Stainless Steel at Cryogenic Temperatures

Abstract Austenitic stainless steels are known for their ability to achieve high strength while maintaining excellent ductility at cryogenic temperatures. As such, they are considered promising candidate materials for storage and transportation applications under these extreme conditions. Extensive data is available in the literature regarding the embrittlement of 316L stainless steel in gaseous hydrogen at cryogenic temperatures, with peak susceptibility typically reported between -80°C and -100°C. This susceptibility is often attributed to the instability of the austenitic phase and the formation of strain-induced martensite during mechanical loading. In this study, the behavior of 316L stainless steel under hydrogen pressure at cryogenic temperatures is investigated. The primary focus is on assessing the effect of hydrogen on 316L steel grade produced through various manufacturing routes, including conventional processes and additive manufacturing. Differences between grades 1.4404 and 1.4435 are also examined. The results confirm that austenite stability plays a primary role in determining material behavior. However, XRD and EBSD analyses reveal that strain-induced martensite transformation alone does not fully account for the observed phenomena. Additionally, it is evident that materials produced via additive manufacturing exhibit distinct behavior, including a shift in the temperature of maximum susceptibility, depending on the specific production process used.